THE curtain came down late on Sunday on the Emperor’s Palace National Two-year old Sale with results indicative of the current lull in the world’s markets.

Jan Naude, CEO of BloodStock South Africa, commented that the sale “was in line with expectations” but he was pleased that “82% of the catalogued lots were sold which meant that the majority of breeders were prepared to let their horses go” in tough times.

Caroline Simpson and Jan Naude, BloodStock SA.

The top price at the sale was realised late on Sunday when Alec Laird and his clients secured lot 455, a Dynasty filly, Queen Of The Sky, the first foal out of the half sister to three-time winners Fun Fly and Angel Flight. Two of the top five buyers by aggregate of the sale were Zimbabwean trainer Seb D’Aquino and Kenyan commentator and bloodstock agent Tom Fraser, once again emphasising the popularity of the South African thoroughbred amongst the neighbouring regions.

Most popular sires at this year’s sale were the perennial favourite Jet Master, who has been laid low this season after contracting West Nile virus, Trippi, Dynasty, Victory Moon and the only lot by Goldkeeper (sold for R220,000).

Klipdrif Stud as agent topped the aggregate list with 27 lots amassing just less than R2.5 million at an average of R89 259. Danika Stud and Sandown Stud also enjoyed a successful sale. The overall average dipped from R74,347 in 2010 to R58,837 and the aggregate was down from R26,170,000 in 2010 to R21,240,000 this year.

Caroline Simpson, sales manager of BloodStock South Africa was pleased with the overall results and called it a “sale for realists.” She commented that “there were no exorbitant prices skewing the average and the lack of under bidders brought the sale prices down from last year.”

The next sale to be held in Johannesburg is the ever-popular Emperor’s Palace Ready to Run sale on Sunday 6 November at the TBA Sales Complex. That sale has produced champions Pierre Jourdan and Igugu in most recent years and once again buyers will be eager to see what pedigrees are on offer from the vendors.